Black_socciety: Bewitched (CHL)

Country of origin:Chile
Status:Split-up
Year of creation:1990
Genre: Heavy/Doom/Black Metal, Ambient

Not to be confused with the more recent Swedish Speed Metal outfit of the same name, the Chilean BEWITCHED was created by Doomicus and Arahn Evil in 1990, and officially entered the scene in 1991 with their demo "In god I Trust (The Medieval Fears)", which laid the foundations for their characteristic Black/Doom sound. A second demo followed in 1992, "Nemesis", featuring three new members: Aganamon, Path Sentinel, and W.T., who were subsequently replaced by the drummer, Snow. With this line - up BEWITCHED proceeded then to record their third and last demo, "Doomed", which displayed a more Gothic and Epic Black/Doom direction and which was widely distributed through European mail orders like Osmose Productions and Holy Records. "Doomed" led to a deal with Warmaster Records in Colombia, through which they released a split LP with Finish F-UNCUNT, which earned them international recognition and to a number of offers from well - known European labels, including Holy Records, with which they nearly inked a deal. After another line-up change and along with a couple of session members, an obscurely haemal full - length album hight "Hibernum In Perpetuum" was recorded in the Winter of 1993 and eventually thawed out in February 1996 via Chilean label Picoroco Records.

(An advance demo "Last Breath" was unleashed before on 1994 for promotional purposes only) Despite its very limited edition, "Hibernum In Perpetuum" enjoyed fairly good distribution in the European continent, and formed the basis for a new deal with Conquistador Records. The ensuing album, "Dragonflight", amalgamated the morose depressiveness of Doom with the technical dexterity of the epic European sound, as well as the classic Black Metal elements and look, into a majestic Satanic Black/Doom work of art. "Dragonflight" was dug out of the permafrost in the Spring of 1999, and signified a decisive step forward for the band, whose work earned them many enthusiastic reviews. Later that same year, BEWITCHED, by then strengthened by three new members, entombed themselves in the glacial depths of the studio, where they recorded their third opus, "Somewhere Beyond The Mist". This album evinces significant progression, both technically and compositionally, while at the same time avoiding the pitfalls often encountered by maturing bands, who often run out of ideas at this point and start churning out boring, over-slick, commercial pap: amongst the melodic riffing and vocals, we encounter many strange and enchanting passages, full of cold and darkly fantastic atmospheres. Doomicus Stardust kicked the whole line up on 2001.

On 2002 Doomicus along new members, Christian "Moerk Handen" Frost and Walter "Kæffel" Tölg, recorded the Bewitched's fourth album "Self Confidence", released later on 2003 under Picoroco records. It was a hateful simphony of grim and atmospheric pagan black metal away from the classic HM vibe.

On the year 2004 Bewitched recorded a promotional demo in order to show some dark vibes from the new album "Unveiling Zion: The Mother's Return". Unveiling Zion was released by Supernal Music from England on August 2005 showing an abstract and utter musical soundscape full of misanthropic genius and truly grim pagan black metal on its finest way.
December 2005 was the date of releasing "Black Funeral (A Satanic Statement Of Hate)", an album that include rare tracks between 1996-2002, including alot of Mercyful Fate/King Diamond covers songs, live tracks, unreleased tracks etc etc. This piece of gold was released under Bewitched records (Keltic Records sublabel) exclusively. Into The Ardent Awaited Land (The Falkenbach Cover song on Unveiling Zion: The Mother's Return) appears with a different mastering on the Falkenbach Tribute CD released by Skaldic Art Records in 2006.
Also through our neverending politically incorrect way of life we were glad to compose an exclusive track (Resistance's Soundscape) for the Anti-Geldof Compilation released by the cult english label Supernal Music. We have re-recorded some tracks including the whole vocal parts of Dragonflight and we have remixed the whole thing.

Dragonflight 2007 was unleashed last year 2007 through Keltic Records. Roman Sayenko of Drudkh/Blood Of Kingu/Hate Forest/Dark Ages has re-released through his label Nightbirds Records 4 of our albums on limited Tape versions; Hibernum In Perpetuum, Dragonflight 2007, Self Confidence and Unveiling Zion: The Mother's Return. Also Blackmountain Records has re-released on a limited tape to 60 copies the infamous Hibernum In Perpetuum totally sold out on a few days. Our last and FINAL spell will be released as a 3 way Split CD under Keltic Records next May 25 along the german act Ymer Land and our countrymates Gorgeo Seglar.

After this release Bewitched largest and finest activity on the Metal scene finnish their mission upon this earth.

Hibernum in Perpetuum